October 26, 2013, 1:26 UTC+3The European Union is not ready to give up its close multifaceted co-operation with the United States

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John Kerry,left, and Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite Photo AP/Dzoja Borysaite

BRUSSELS, October 25 (Itar-Tass) - The European Union is not ready to give up its close multifaceted co-operation with the United States notwithstanding the ongoing espionage scandal, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said at the EU summit in Brussels on Friday.

"The main thing is that our eyes are set on the future. Transatlantic partnership has been and remains an important factor," Grybauskaite, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said.

"The current task is to preserve our relations with the United States," French President Francois Hollande said in his turn, insisting that "trust has to be restored and reinforced".

The current EU summit was originally intended to pave the way for tighter coordination of economic policies. However, the recent allegations that the US had been tapping the phones of European leaders were at the top of the agenda.

The EU leaders said they wanted the United States to change its attitude, but at the same time refuse to downgrade strategic co-operation with Washington.